परं पौरुषमाश्रित्य जित्वा चित्तमतङ्गजम् । यावदेको गुणो नाऽन्तस्तावन्नाऽस्त्युत्तमा गतिः ॥ २८ ॥
paraṁ pauruṣamāśritya jitvā cittamataṅgajam | yāvadēkō guṇō nā’ntastāvannā’styuttamā gatiḥ || 28 ||
Translation
Relying on the highest effort, having conquered the elephant of the mind: as long as not even one virtue is within, there is no highest goal.
Word by word
- paraṁ
- the highest
- pauruṣam
- effort
- āśritya
- relying on
- jitvā
- having conquered
- citta
- of the mind
- mataṅgajam
- the elephant
- yāvad
- as long as
- ēkō
- (ekaḥ) one
- guṇō
- (guṇaḥ) virtue
- na
- not
- antas
- (antaḥ) within
- tāvan
- (tāvat) so long
- asti
- there is
- uttamā
- the highest
- gatiḥ
- goal
Meaning
The commentary: subduing the mind-elephant with effort, as long as one virtue has not been gained in the heart, the highest goal is out of reach. The elephant is the image of a strength that must be tamed before it can be used. The verse sets the minimum: one virtue, truly within.